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“I have respect for beer!” Russell Crowe shouts, thrusting his arms skyward, in his portrayal of mathematician John Nash in 2001’s A Beautiful Mind.   I can relate. While beer has never been my thing, I have interviewed many talented, thoughtful brewers and written quite a bit about local breweries. Beermaking is a beautiful mix of art and science that never ceases to amaze me. The craft beer community has my utmost respect, especially in how it has pivoted during the pandemic to reach customers in new and innovative ways.   Not...

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Easter is Sunday, April 12 and although your celebrations might include Zoom chats and FaceTime get-togethers instead of Easter egg hunts and a hearty brunch at your favorite local haunt, many restaurants are providing a sense of normalcy with traditional meals to go. From down-home to upscale, here are a few takeout specials to enjoy this Easter. Chompie’s The beloved deli is offering Easter and Passover family feasts, which can be delivered to your doorstep...

Over the past couple of quarantined weeks, I’ve written about making your own happy hour spread at home and I’ve rounded up some great takeout happy hour options so you can #supportlocal while you #stayhome. Now, I suppose I’ll start making my own way through said takeout options. (Though if you have questions or suggestions on DIY happy hours at home, I’m all ears! Email me at leah.lemoine@phoenixmag.com.)  I should have taken this week’s Happy Hour To Go blog as an opportunity to try a new restaurant. I haven’t encountered one of those in a...

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This week, chef Rene Andrade of Ghost Ranch shares his barbacoa burrito recipe that you can make in a crockpot, which will come in handy once the temperature rises and you don’t want to use the oven. Before wrapping your burrito, Andrade suggests heating up the tortilla to make it more flexible. “After you wrap it, put it back in the pan for 5 seconds on each side to get a nice crispiness on the...

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Last week I wrote about creating your own happy hour spread at home with DIY snack plates and cocktails using the provisions you have on hand. This week, I’m highlighting where you can pick up cocktails – in their completed forms or in components to mix yourself at home – from local businesses to keep supporting them during this truly insane time. Plenty more places are offering these things, so find your favorite local restaurants and bars on social media to see their up-to-date...

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For those who could use a little treat right now, we’ve rounded up a tasty and healthy smoothie for you to make at home courtesy of Alexandra Maw, co-owner of Kaleidoscope Juice. In addition to being downright tasty, the mint chip smoothie has many health benefits. “The avocado provides a heart-healthy fat, spirulina is one of nature’s superfoods and is full of B-vitamins, copper and iron and the almond milk and almond butter are great...

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Bob McClendon owns one of the state’s only USDA-certified small farms, McClendon’s Select, which grows 100 different varieties of organic fruits and vegetables across 93 acres of farmland in Peoria and Goodyear. McClendon’s main sources of revenue are supplying his bounty to restaurants and farmers markets across the Valley. Business is typically booming for specialty growers during the spring months, but sales have suddenly screeched to a halt due to the coronavirus outbreak in Arizona....